Surface rebounding apparatus including ball, racket, and rebound surface

ABSTRACT

A competitive action game of the type wherein a reboundable ball is launched toward, and returned by, opposing participants with the aid of a racquet-like instrument, characterized by the provision of an intermediate rebounding surface which the ball must strike in its path of flight towards an opposing player, the rebounding surface including opposed inwardly and upwardly directed portions.

United States Patent Meyer et al.

SURFACE REBOUNDING APPARATUS INCLUDING BALL, RACKET, AND REBOUND SURFACE Burton C. Meyer, Chicago; Robert S. McKay, Morton Grove, both of Ill.

Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 111.

Filed: Dec. 3, 1970 Appl, No.: 94,784

Inventors:

US. Cl. ....273/96 R, 273/95 H, 273/95 R Int. Cl. ..A63b 63/00 Field of Search ..273/95 R, 95 H, 102 R, 96R

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1941 Larson ..273/102 R 51 June 20, 1972 1,530,573 3/1925 Olcott ..273/96 R 2,812,946 11/1957 Hughes ..273/95 H 2,163,456 6/1939 Youngberg... ..273/95 R 2,072,682 3/1937 M0rgan..... ....273/96 R 2,688,484 9/1954 Garber ..273/95 R Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT A competitive action game of the type wherein a reboundable ball is launched toward, and returned by, opposingparticipants with the aid of a racquet-like instrument, characterized by the provision of an intermediate rebounding surface which the ball must strike in its path of flight towards an opposing player, the rebounding surface including opposed inwardly and upwardly directed portions.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SURFACE REBOUNDING APPARATUS INCLUDING BALL, RACKET, AND REBOUND SURFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There are many forms of competitive action games in the art wherein opposing players receive and return a ball-like missile toward each other. Such games include those where the players directly oppose each other and strike the ball to launch it towards each other such as table tennis and tennis, and those where the players launch the ball toward eachother by bouncing it ofiof an intermediate upright surface, such as hand ball and the like.

Such direct action physical games are well received in that the participants develop a sense of timing and skill while getting a significant amount of exercise during participation in the game. The limitations of these games include the fact that they require a special court or playing area which both takes a relatively large amount of space, plus a great deal of expense to provide. This invention is directed towards meeting a need and desire in the art to provide a direct action competitive game involving the element of receiving and launching a reboundable ball toward opposing players where both the implements and the playing surfaces are easily and economically provided and wherein only limited space is required for the play of the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved ball-receiving and launching competitive action game.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a reboundable ball,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the game of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged exploded view of the components of the ball deflecting means of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the ball deflecting means of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the ball receiving and launching implement used with this invention, and;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line'5-5 of FIG. 4.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The competitive action game of this invention includes a playing piece rebounding or deflecting means generally indicated 12, a reboundable playing piece or missile 14, preferably in the nature of a rubber ball or the like, and at least a pair of racquet-like playing implements or ball-receiving and launching means 16, so that the game may be participated in by at least a pair of players 18.

The playing piece rebounding or deflecting means is generally triangular in side elevation, as best seen in FIG. 3.

Rebounding or deflecting means 12 includes a pair of mutually upwardly and inwardly extending inclined rebounding surfaces 20 and 22 having a base or flange portion 20a and 22a, respectively, which projects outwardly at an obtuse angle relative to the remainder of the rebounding surfaces 20 or 22. When the flange or base surfaces 20a or 22a rest upon a generally horizontal supporting surface, the rebounding surfaces 20 and 22 extend upwardly at an acute angle relative thereto, such as the approximately 45 angle shown in FIG. 3.

Each end of rebounding surface 20 and 22 opposite flange 20a and 22a has an inwardly extending bracket means or U- shaped strap member, such as the brackets 24 and 26, respectively. Each of the bracket means has a through opening 244 and 26a therein. The bracket means 24 and 26 are located, relative to one another, so as to be offset relative to the lateral extent of surfaces 20 and 22 and to have apertures 24a and 26a therethrough in alignment with each other when the surfaces 20 and 22 are placed adjacent one another with the flanges 20a and 22a resting on a horizontal supporting surface surface, as shown in FIG. 3. A fastening element, here shown in the preferred form of a rod 28, is provided. Rod 28 is generally of a size and shape to fit through the aligned openings 24a and 26a so as to pivotally fasten the two surfaces 20 and 22 together at the apex of their generally relatively triangular orientation.

A cross brace means is provided for connecting the two supporting surfaces 20 and 22 together, generally at the base thereof. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, this takes the preferred form of a wire rod-like member 30 having inwardly returned hooked ends 30a and 30b. Rebounding surface 20 has, on at least one end thereof, generally vertically spaced apart pin-like elements 32a, 32b and 321: of a size and shape to bereceived in the hook-like end 30a or 30b of brace 30. Similarly, supporting surface 22 has, on at least one end thereof, a pin-like element 34 also of a size and shape to be received in one of the returned ends 30a and 30b of brace 30.

Thus, to assemble the rebounding means 12, the two surfaces 20 and 22 are placed adjacent each other and with the through apertures 24a and 26a aligned, the rod 28 is inserted therethrough. Then one of the returned ends, such as 30b of brace 30 is fastened to the pin-like element 34 with the other end 30a being connected to one of the pin-like elements 32a, 32b or 32c, depending upon the relative angular disposition desired to be given to the surfaces 20 and 22 with respect to each other. Such relative adjustment is permitted by the .fact that the connection at the apex of the rebounding means 12 is in the form of a pivotal or swingable connection. I

The playing implement or racquet means 16 utilized with the game of this invention includes an elongate handle portion 40 generally of a size and shape to be received within the hand of a player 18. A ball-receiving and launching end 42 is connected to the handle portion and includes a widened pocketlike recess 44 strenthened by an underlying and lengthwise extending brace element 46.

To play the game, the rebounding or deflecting means 12 is assembled by disposing the surfaces 20 and 22 adjacent to each other with the brackets 24 and 26 in alignment so that the rod 28 may be extended through the apertures 24a and 26a. Next the bracing member 30 is connected to the ends of the surfaces 20 and 22 with the desired angular disposition obtained. The players stand on opposite sides of the rebounding means 12 and initiate action by launching the ball 14 against the rebounding surfaces by use of the racquets 16. As the ball strikes one of the surfaces 20 or 22, it will rebound upwardly and forwardly therefrom. In addition, the usual deviations in lateral rebounding angle may occur in response to spin imparted to the ball or the like. The other player must then receive the ball 14 within the recessed portion of the racquet 16 and return the ball by forwarding it towards the rebounding surface. The game possesses the advantage of being capable of being played in a limited amount space in that the boundries of the game may be limited to the lateral extent of the means 12 as well as suitably arranged end or base" lines.

Moreover, the provision of the rebounding means 12 can transform an ordinary horizontal surface, such as a driveway, sidewalk, or basement area into a suitable court for the play of this game.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising: a reboundable missile-like playing piece, a plurality of playing piece receiving and launching implements, and playing piece rebounding means including two rebounding surfaces which generally extend toward each other in intersecting planes and face in opposition to each other, with each rebounding surface including a base portion which extends obtusely relative to the remainder of the rebounding surface, whereby players disposed on opposed sides of said rebounding means may direct the playing piece towards the opposing player by launching the playing piece toward said rebounding means.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the sup porting surfaces includes bracket members at the end thereof opposite the base portion, with the brackets of the two rebounding surfaces being disposed in alignment with each other when the rebounding surfaces are disposed adjacent to each other.

3. The game apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bracket members are laterally offset relative to each other with respect to the lateral extent of the rebounding surfaces.

4. The game apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bracket members include openings therethrough and wherein a rod member is provided for insertion through the openings in the bracket members.

5. The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the rebounding surfaces has fastening members on at least one lateral end thereof and wherein a bracing member is provided having fastening portions complementary to said fastening members. 

1. A game apparatus comprising: a reboundable missile-like playing piece, a plurality of playing piece receiving and launching implements, and playing piece rebounding means including two rebounding surfaces which generally extend toward each other in intersecting planes and face in opposition to each other, with each rebounding surface including a base portion which extends obtusely relative to the remainder of the rebounding surface, whereby players disposed on opposed sides of said rebounding means may direct the playing piece towards the opposing player by launching the playing piece toward said rebounding means.
 2. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the supporting surfaces includes bracket members at the end thereof opposite the base portion, with the brackets of the two rebounding surfaces being disposed in alignment with each other when the rebounding surfaces are disposed adjacent to each other.
 3. The game apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bracket members are laterally offset relative to each other with respect to the lateral extent of the rebounding surfaces.
 4. The game apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bracket members include openings therethrough and wherein a rod member is provided for insertion through the openings in the bracket members.
 5. The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the rebounding surfaces has fastening members on at least one lateral end thereof and wherein a bracing member is provided having fastening portions complementary to said fastening members. 